#HealthEquity commentaries often simply summarise SDH but this 1 made me pause: https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20210204.432267/full/#.YCOfIGGsDg8.twitter It makes points I & others have (eg @ProfBambra @FafardPatrick @juliaflynch): Health is fundamentally political & Science & evidence are not what... drive policy decisions 1/6

But the following really drives the point better than I've seen it put before: 'we look ridiculous with our “more research is needed” taglines—especially when there is no documented correlation... btwn the vol of studies published & reductions in racial health inequities... 2/6

...This is distraction and obfuscation at its finest, the public health equivalent of “a more convenient season."' Followed by... 3/6

'as scholars, researchers, practitioners, community organizers, and everyday health champions, we must be unmistakably explicit about our goals and judicious in our choice of research questions, methods, dissemination venues, organizing tactics, and communication strategies' 4/6

'all of which... must be rooted in antiracist, critical race, & decolonizing frameworks. This, invariably, means we must stop pretending our work is apolitical or neutral—it is not, nor should it be. In the beloved community, you’re either about that business, or you’re not.' 5/6

Many thanks to @RJPway4EQ for such a powerful piece - will be encouraging students & others to engage & thinking through what i need to change in my own practices... It's easy to know & say health is political - I'm still figuring out how best to act on this knowledge.